Apparatus fob protecting buildings from fire



PATENTED JULY 10, 1860.

vs. M. ANDRUS. APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING BUILDINGS FROM FIRE,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SYLVESTER M. ANDRUS, OF BELLEVUE, MICHIGAN.

APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING BUILDINGS FROM FIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 29,044, dated July 10, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLVESTER M. AN- DRUS, of Bellevue, in the county of Eaton and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Automatic Machine for Protecting Buildings from Fire; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, true, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure l is a perspective view. Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical section.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

This invention consists of a fuse and explosive projectile, to be used in connection, with a tilting and stationary box, provided with distributing pipes 620., the several parts being arranged in the manner hereinafter to be explained, and the better to enable others, to construct and use the same I will now proceed to describe it.

A represents a rectangular box, constructed of wood, or any other suitable material, inside of which, another box B for containing water, is suspended.

The interior box is hung by two. journals (one of which is seen at J) to two sides of the box A, in such manner, that when left free, it will tilt to one side and turn over, so as to discharge all its contents into said outer box. Instead of the tilting box being rectangular, as seen in Fig. 1, it may be a cylinder, as exhibited in Fig. 2, or a tight barrel of proper size with a hole cut through one of the staves to receive and discharge the water, and with the journals placed eccentrically in theuheads, will answer the purpose equally we F represents a small fuse, surrounding at a safe distance, a stove pipe R (which represents a dangerous point requiring protection) and leading to a charge of, powder in the chamber of a small tube or cannon C, which is attached in a suitable position to the floor, or to a platform on which the apparatus stands.

I represents a wad of leather, or other material sufliciently strong, and incombustible, driven tight over the charge of powder. A

wire, or cord 0 passing through a hole in the box A connects this wad with the tilting vessel, B so as to hold it in a proper position for containing the water, when the wad is driven home against the powder.

P is a pipe, opening into the bottom part of the box A. It is carried to such point, or points in a building, as may be more than ordinarily dangerous, where it is perforated with numerous small holes in such positions as to insure the extinguishing a fire breaking out in any spot commanded by them, and the fuse. The pipe P, if not made to encircle a dangerous spot, as seen in Fig. 1, would of course require closing at the outer end, so as to confine the issue of the water to the part or parts which are perforated.

The mode of operation is as follows: The water apparatus having been adjusted in connection with the fuse, so as to command the proper locality; should a fire break out there it would run along the fuse to the charge in the cannon and fire off the wad with a loud explosion. This alarms the inmates or neighbors, and liberates the water vessel 13, which tilts upside down and empties all' the water into the box A and pipe P from whence it is discharged through the perforations on the fire and extinguishes it before any aid can possibly arrive.

The practical utility of this arrangement is based on the fact, that large numbers of dwelling houses, are defective in their con struction, and each one has at least one dangerous locality about it, which is almost sure to be in a spot not much frequented, and very often not easily accessible; also that a very small quantity of water applied to a fire at its commencement, will if accompanied by a prompt alarm, be sufficient in most cases to cause its extinguishment before any material damage has been done.

This apparatus is very cheap in construction and need not occupy much available space, and the fuse may be carried to any part of a building where it is not exposed to damp, and it will remain in working order.

I do not claim the use of a. fuse communicating with the charge of a small cannon for merely producing an explosion to give an alarm in case of fire, but

What I claim as my invention and desire charged almost simultaneously on and to secure by Letters Patent is around the spot, Where the fire first com- Connecting the Wad I with a. tilting and municated With the fuse. distributing arrangement, of water, sub- SYLVESTER M. ANDRUS. 5 stantially in the manner as herein described, Witnesses:

so that When an explosion occurs, an alarm Z. TILLOTSON, will not only be given, but Water will be dis- GEORGE JOHNSON. 

